In Hello Friends,
I want to send a message and update you on how Ferncliff is responding during this time of uncertainty. Each day brings new information and we are working to adapt and search for responsible and creative ways to respond. This is what we know.
- We know things are going to be different this year.
- We know that Ferncliff is resilient and we have faith that we will navigate through this.
- We know we will need the support of those we serve and those whom support us.
During this time our staff are focusing on the ways we can accomplish our mission, even as we recognize the obstacles before us. 
We are aware of the financial reality of the disruption of our normal modes of operation, but we are not becoming paralyzed by that reality.
Register for Camp. There is no risk since we have established a policy of full refunds related to cancellations due to COVID-19. We are still planning on operating our summer camp program. I know by this summer kids are going to be looking for fun programs outdoors. Once we get through this, Ferncliff could be about the healthiest place for a kid to be this summer.
Make a Monthly Gift. Although we could use funds now to replace the severe loss of income we are experiencing, we’d like to encourage our supporters to consider setting up a recurring donation. If you are able to give a $200 gift, perhaps consider giving $20 monthly. This will help us a bit now and be a steady stream of income in the coming months.
Schedule a Retreat. If you are planning a retreat or event for the fall or even next year, go ahead and get it on the calendar. Many groups are rescheduling and having retreats on the books will help us understand our financial situation moving forward.
Keep us in Your Thoughts and Prayers. Think about ways that you can see Ferncliff adapting to this crisis and being a part of the recovery. Reach out to us with your ideas and suggestions. Pray for our world and for our ministry here; that the mission of this organization will continue to be accomplished now and into the future.
Appreciatively,
Joel Cory Gill
Executive Director
P.S. Here is some further information on how Ferncliff is responding during this time.
Our People
I am blessed to work alongside so many smart, creative, caring people. The culture here has attracted the finest of folks. It would be foolish to scrap our most valuable resource during this temporary crisis. That’s why our leadership is working to keep our staff employed. We are modifying our work to the new realty and we are working and meeting remotely when possible. We are all chipping in and working on duties outside of our normal job descriptions. We are working to be upbeat and find the opportunities that this time presents to us. Situations may change, but for now all our full-time staff are still working towards our shared mission of making a positive difference in the world.
Our Programs
Our nature preschool and nature after school programs are currently suspended until April 20th. We hope we will be able to
welcome our students back at that time. For now our nature school teachers are filming videos and sharing resources with our families to keep them engaged with outdoors. Right now, we are still planning on operating our summer programs as planned. Should restrictions or guidelines change for the summer months we will adjust our plans. We are encouraging families to continue to register for summer camp, as we are so there is no financial risk to registering. If the restrictions are lifted, we know that kids are going to be ready for camp and Ferncliff could be the healthiest place for them to be this summer.
Our Response
Flood Buckets
Our disaster assistance center (DAC) is still operational. Just last week we sent 900 flood buckets to communities recovering from disaster. It is nice to know that even in a time of crisis that Ferncliff can play a part in our recovery. Likewise, we received a shipment of items from Amazon that we are sharing with non-profits and churches that are members of our Sharing the Goods program. The warehouse is currently open by appointment only but we are glad that we are still able to operate this program that serves over 130 local non-profits and faith communities.
We are currently offering Family Time Field Trips where families can reserve a time to come to Ferncliff and hike, fish or play a round of frisbee golf. It’s nice to see so many families taking advantage of this opportunity to enjoy Ferncliff.
We are contacting local officials to find out what we can do to help. Ferncliff may be able to assist with needs that our county or state may have as the crisis escalates. This time will take all of us doing what we can in order to make it through with the least amount of tragedy possible.
Our Retreats
Due to the guidelines set forth by the CDC, we have had to suspend our hospitality operations until April 1st. Most likely the restrictions will last much longer and our retreat and conference cancellations will extend as well. This is a significant hit to our operation and we have already incurred substantial financial losses in March alone. The good news is that most groups are rebooking for the fall or into the future and we hope to bounce back once normalcy is restored.
If you had to cancel an event this spring, we’d love to get you on the calendar for this fall or next year. A phone call from you would brighten our day!
Thank you for your support of Ferncliff. As we learn more about the situation and adapt our response we hope to share it with you, the Ferncliff community.